Comic Title: Batman Archives Vol. 1 HC
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 1990
On Sale Date: June 5, 1990 Shipping Date June 5, 1990
Source: Previews, #15

Shipping Date June 5, 1990
Source: Amazing Heroes, #179

Shipping Date June 7, 1990
Source: Advance Comics, #17

Direct Market Date June 7, 1990
Source: Comic Shop News, #153

Cover Price: $39.95
Page Count: 304
Editor: Dale Crain

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "The Batman Wars Against the Dirigible of Doom"
Pages: 12

Feature(s):
Batman (of Earth-2)

Writer: Gardner F. Fox
Artist: Bob Kane

Reprinted From:
Detective Comics #33 (1939)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Detective Comics #32; next appearance in Detective Comics #34)

Villain(s)

• Prof Carl Kruger (a criminal mastermind; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Travis, Bixley, Ryder, and the Scarlet Army (Kruger's gang; no further appearances)
• Joe Chill (the Waynes' killer; name not given in this story; appears only in flashback to Batman’s origin; next appearance in Batman #47)

Other Character(s)

• Thomas Wayne (Bruce Wayne's father; appears only in flashback to Batman’s origin; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Martha Wayne (Bruce Wayne's mother; first name not given in this story; appears only in flashback to Batman’s origin; dies in this story; no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Batman (earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Detective Comics #27)

Comments:
The story contains a two page origin sequence "The Batman and How He Came to Be".

Synopsis:
Bruce Wayne’s parents were ruthlessly gunned down by a stick-up man. Vowing to avenge their death, Bruce dedicated himself to the acheivement of physical and mental perfection. Using his unsurpassed skills, Bruce decides to begin his war on crime when he reaches adulthood. When a bat flys through an open window, Bruce is inspired to become a creature of the night, the Batman.

Above the crowded streets of Manhattan, a dirigible uses a terrible death-ray killing thousands. Batman investigates, believing Prof Carl Kruger, a self-styled Napolean, to be responsible. Batman breaks up a meeting between Kruger and his lieutenants, but he is nearly killed when the building is burned down.

Batman visits one of Kruger’s men the following night and is led to Kruger’s hideout. Batman tries to sabotage the dirigible, but he is shot. Only his bullet-proof vest saves his life. When Kruger attacks the city in his dirigible again, Batman crashes the Batplane into it, causing them to crash. Batman escapes death, but Kruger dies as his plane is brought down in the river.